Lower Providence Strangler Must Remain in Psychiatric Hospital, Judge Rules

A judge has ruled that a legally-insane Lower Providence man who strangled his father to death in 2002 remains a “danger to others” and will continue to stay in Norristown State Hospital for another year, according to The Reporter.

James Snook, 35, will continue his stay at the hospital under the judge’s ruling of court-ordered involuntary treatment at a locked civil unit at the hospital.  

Montgomery County President Judge William J. Furber, Jr. wrote in his court order that Snook “continues to be severely mentally disabled and in need of treatment, and to present a clear and present danger to others.”  

In the court order Furber allowed Snook “increased grounds privileges” only with staff supervision, which will allow Snook to participate in “second shift” activities and psychiatric therapy programs in other buildings on the grounds.

Prosecutors have consistently countered Snook’s requests to have grounds privileges without supervision.

In 2003 now-retired Judge Maurino J. Rossanese Jr. found Snook to be legally insane after he strangled his father, Irving Donald Snook, formerly an executive at a hospital in Philadelphia, with a cord, and then tried to strangle his mother Judith Snook on November 24, 2002, in their Sanderling Circle residence.   

Snook has remained at Norristown State Hospital since 2003.  Under Pennsylvania law, a person deemed insane is affected by a mental condition that does not allow him to understand the quality or nature of what he does, or to be able to differentiate between right and wrong.